Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Testimonies, and more testimonies!

Personal testimonies are one of the greatest ways people can share the great things God is doing in and through their lives! I was able to hear three fabulous testimonies, and lead a devotion about sharing the great things God is doing--all within a 24 hour period!

The first testimony was from a woman who had been involved in witchcraft and casting spells, from a very young age. Her parents wanted her to become more and more important in the spiritual centers and "gave" her to the satanic gods. The ramifications of her parents choices were mighty, although the number one point from this woman was, "When God allows the Devil to work, he can do real damage; the LORD has all power, although, we should not underestimate our adversaries ways! The truth will prevail!"

The second testimony was from a woman who was born in a Christian home, fell in lust with a Christian man at a spiritual center, chased after him, renounced her faith in Jesus Christ, joined Satan's team, came back to Christ, and now is serving God! She too stressed that God is good and He is always with us, no matter where we go, however bad it is, He will always love us. No wall is too high too keep Gods love away from us.

For the devotional I was leading, I chose to speak on Luke 8:39. "'Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.' So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him." We broke up into smaller groups, praying for one another, as we proclaimed what great things God has done and is doing in our lives, we also prayed that we would be more like Jesus Christ, idolizing Him!

The coolest part of the devotion was that right before I was to give it, Vanda came up and asked if she could share a short testimony, how timely!? God is so good! Vanda shared that she had come to INFORM missions training on funds raised by friends at the church and she had been cleaning bathrooms here to pay her way. Vanda wanted to go to Paraguay for a mission trip. Upon going up to prayer mountain with a group of people, God said to her, "Do not worry, your trip will be funded!" In Vanda's words, "I stand here today, to tell you, a brother has funded my trip!"